Lesson No. 1: Love your job, not the company

I love the company, I love my job. I love what I am doing and I love the influence I had. The management allowed me to do what I want. I decide who does what, who goes where and what to buy for the project. I reduce making expenses claims to save the company money. I spent and did my job because I love the company. I would just fly or sent someone to any project site as I wish with no question asked.

The thing is, the company doesn't love me, cared about me or even know what I did. They don't even know that things run because I had interfered. The constant change of people in the higher management had left the succeeding people starting from square one. They brought in their own people, have their own agenda and move forward without thinking, asking, or look back on what was achieved. A technical hot shot were brought in and said that everything was wrong yet no alternative solutions were given. He wanted to change to a perfect design without considering budgets, costs and time factor. Six months later the hot shot left... and still no solutions were given. Designs were back to the original.

The lesson : High staff turnover is an indication of management chaos. If the ground works are screwed up, chances are the top management are all well screwed up. I should have left the company while I was ahead.

The Setup

By the year 2003, I was the most senior person in the company. While others had left the company for a better job, I was still here as I plan to retire here. I was important. I lead a team to design the IT network infrastructure for 24 Malaysian government hospitals worth RM600 million (USD170million). Without good IT infra design, installed workstation, servers and applications worth millions will go useless. I knew that the company needs me more than I need them as this was the crucial part of the project. The job was a real challenge. I had to deal directly with 24 different building contractors half of which are despicable form of land-based pirates. As an independent IT contractor, I would just blast them off in the big meeting in front of the clients and consultants. My job knew no working hours as I went beyond my job scope. I was busy as I lead other Project Managers to manage the project. The company's first management team rewarded me by sending me on a field trip to Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Auckland, Muscat, Dubai, Boston and San Francisco, taking the clients for site visits. While others were rewarded with a 1 month bonus, I got more. I was powerful, I was important and I was comfortable...

Every year for some unknown reasons, the management kept changing the Project Director which eventually change the management structure. In every change of guards, I had to prove myself all over again. Whatever I have done before, whatever I had sacrificed would again gone with the winds. I have counted that no less than 5 times that the person in charge was replaced since I was there... My dedications and sacrifices basically is unheard of...

Three years went by and my job to manage the design works is now complete. Its now time to install, test and commission. So I assigned team leaders to monitor the implementation and commissioning works. I then reduced my work in technical and moved towards monitoring and management and then reposition myself into more corporate role. I was in the position to do as such. Nobody dared to touch me with a 10-foot pole... at least thats what I thought...

Friends and Foes

I was one of the pioneering staff who started work from year 2000. And so I left the company in 2006 with many hanky-panky things still on-going. Many IT hardwares required to complete the project was never ordered nor purchased. Specifications on some hardwares were changed without approvals and most payments were delayed. Suppliers and contractors had to resort to begging for their payments while some resort to threats. Some became almost bankrupt. Whatever it is, it all boils down that my team cannot finish their work and deadlines are deadlines. My haunts to the Purchasing Manager is completely useless. My complaints to the Project Director fell on deaf ears. My attempt to inform the CEO returned silent. During a meeting with the clients, we were asked of our delays and our very own Project Director turned to me and asked for an explanation... WHAT...#@*$! you know damn well what was going on and you are asking me to explain?.... I anticipate that they will make me a scape goat one day. Since the year 2003 I started archiving all my emails, including receipt that my emails was read. Should they blame me for not telling them, I'll just show them those archives. ...but I never got that chance. It was all too sudden.

Totally, 3 or 4 of my friends, nicknamed "the Golfers" by my staff actually planned for my exit. I found out later that I was actually in their way in order for them to make extra money out of the company dealings. With me around they must purchase equipments according to specs. Anything less I will come down hard on them. Money and greed had blinded them. They forgot that they will answer to God one day. They had to get rid of me, and they did...

Loyalty for Nothing

It was 26th May 2006. I was asked to leave the company for no logical reasons after 6 years of dedicated work. I know all the rules on this but at that moment I was like a zombie when they asked for my resignation letter. I gave them my letter and it was all over in 30 minutes. I was 45, I was jobless and I was not financially prepared for this.

I was in a good senior position. I was in the position of recommending IT hardwares for purchase and tender evaluation worth millions. I recommend payments to contractors and advise the management on related and unrelated issues. Many had offered bribes that is hard to resist. But I cannot live to think that all the foods and clothes my family consumes are all from dirty money. I took no bribes and declined these amazing offers. I only make necessary work related expenses claims from the company and I went out of my way and job scope to ensure works are completed as scheduled. However, my dedication and loyalty meant completely nothing. . .